Centrifugal pump



April 2.9, 1930. G. F W.| FLEY 1,756,324

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed Sept,' 10 1928 5 an excessive wear, and,

- come vthis -'defect vbutl adding water tothe stuliing Ithe proper Iamount of ly,'an'd in many cases Patented Ape 29, 1930 GEORGE F. WILiL-EY, oF DENVER,

cammino, assiemon vcro A. n. WILFLEY .um sons,

INC.,. A CORPORATION 0F COLORADO n cEN'rmuGAL rum 4 Application nieu september 1o, 192s. serial No. 304,869.

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal pumps'.

Centrifugal pumps are extensi ely used for handling acid, water containing sand or grit or other liquids. These-pumps comprise a casingforming a chambery,` Within which is located a rotatable runner, which is secured to a shaft and which, when rotated at the proper speed, produces the necessar centrifugal force for moving the liquid. n pum s of this type it is not possible to have t e opening through which the shaft enters the runner chamber very that the grit and sand in the water produces when acids vare handled the materials must beV acid proof and such materials as ,a'rule have a high coeiiicient of'friction and are not adapted to two movable surfaces It isv there-fore evident be employed Where come into contact.

that some means has to be provided that will prevent they liquid from flowing out during such times as the pump is inoperative. and which will also return slippage liquid into the stream leaving the pump.l

In pumps of this type there is always a slippage of the' liquid being handled between the impeller andthe side ofnthe pump permitlow into the opening through which ted to the rotatable shaft passes, the shaft land the packing-will be subjected to excessive wear, whichI will soon l permit of liquidto flow throu Many !attempts ,l1ave' een made to overwith little success.

Means have been provided for the purpose of box but this must,

be' free from grit and the stuiiing of course,L l

tightened. to allow only 'box must be properly so as to keep the liquid from iiowing outwardthe liquid beingpumped is prohibited, asfor is used for pumping example when the pump added to the vrun-1 aci-ds.` Port holes havebeen ner close vto the hub to apply what suction in the pump so as to leak inthere may be but lthis causes air stuiiing box, Wardly through the stuing tight, for the reason' an 'excessive amount h theA s tulirg lng.

Watergto enter the pump the addition of Waterto.`

bolts 6 in the mannershown'in E box'. and this v1n the blades and the side of the casing and this' liquid is free to flow outwardly through the shaft opening and produces the excessive wear above referred to. A 'l l This invention consists in employing forthe impeller an imperforate member which is provided on one side with a set..of pumping blades and on the other side with one or more setsl of' auxiliary blades. The auxiliary blades are on ,the side.' of the casingl through which the shaft projects' and their function is to preventas much as possible 'liquid 'from flowing inwardly toward the shaft vbetween the? impeller and the side having the stufling box. The impeller the proper operation of is provided with a circular groove -or-.de- I pression into' which a cylindrical portionl of the casing projects land this groove about its outer circumference whichisadaptedto catchthe slippageliquid and return it to the auxiliary lades. n l Y g' -Having thus very briefly described the'in.- vention the same will nowbe described in detail, and reference will be had 'to thencc'ompanying drawing in which the preferred embodimentrthereof has been illustrated and inwhich: Fig. l is a vertical section through the iniproved pump. f. -I

Fig. 2 is a section fopkline 22, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section'lthr'ough an open .type runner which isQpr-ovided with two setsof auxiliary blades and which can beemployedin place of the"` runner or impeller shown in Fig. 1.1 f s portion has a TES y PATEN-r oFFic-E y nates one of; the standards. or brackets in 1.

' which the shaft 3 is rotatably mounted. rThe' upper end of standard-2 yis, provided with .a

Semi-cylindrical .depression 4 circular opening thusiormed is provided Referencelnuhieral 1 indicates the base of the pump andA reference numeral 2 desig,

andhas secured tg its upper end a complementalcurvedmemg A ber `5, whichqis held in pl with-a groove 7 which is adapted to receive the outwardly extending flange 8 of ring 9. Thisring is provided onits inner surface with threads 10, which engage corresponding .threadsin the outer surface of ring 11. Lo-

cated withinring 1l is a ball-bearing formed by two circular members 12' and 13, which are separated byballs 14 in the usual manner. Ring 12 is of such size that it will just it the interior of ring 11 and is clamped to the latter by means of two clamping rings 15 nldl, which are held in place by means of o ts.

Ring 13 is attached to the shaft 3 and is held against shoulder 17 by means of a circular nut 18 thathas a threaded engagement with the shaft in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Secured to the base 1 and the bracket 2 by any suitable means is a bracket 19.' This 20 bracket is provided with a central opening 2O and has secured to itA an impeller casing 2 1. This casing is separated from bracket. 19 by means of a plate 22, which is provided with a central hub 23 that" extends into the opening 20. A cylindrical member 24 extends through the opening 20 and through the opening in plate 22 into the impeller chamr. The inner end of this cylindrical member is provided with a cylindrical projection 25, Whose outer surface has a groove 26. Packing material 27 separates the outer surface of cylindrical member 24 from the Wall of the opening 20 and this packing is held in place by means of a clamping ring 28, which is secured to the bracket 19 by means of bolts 29. It is obvious that by tightening the bolts 29, the packing.canbe'subjected to whatever' compression'may be desired, so as to forma tight joint.l As the' cylindrical member 24 does not rotate, there will be no wear of the acking orof the outer surface of this memf r, and therefore a tight joint can readily.l be malntained between the cylindrical mem' ber and'the hub 23 so as to prevent liquid from flowing outwardly at this point. Shaft 3 extends into the impeller chamber andv terminates in a conical portion 30 on which is mounted a runner or impeller 31. This impeller is held i-n plade by means of a nut 32 and is provided with, a hub 33 which extends throug the opening in the cylindrical member 24. The outer surface ofhub 33 ismachined sowas. to form a smooth surface' and the opening in member 24 has an inwardly extending annular shoulder `34, which serves as an abutment forthe packing material-35.

A clamping ring 36 is secured to the`cylinmember 24 by means of bolts 37 andv drical servesto hold the packing material under compression, so as to form a stuffing box of the usual construction, The impeller is p rovided. on the side adjacent the inlet opening with alplu-rality of mainpumpingbla'les 38 ""andon'its'rear side with a plurality of auxi1 iary blades 39. These blades are separated by an imperforate central portion 40. The side of the impeller adjacent the stulling box is provided with a central circular :depression 41, which is adapted to receive the cylindrical projection 25. lThe impeller is pro'- vided on its front side with a'sur'face 42, which is adapted to co-operate with a similar surface 43 on the inside of the impeller chamber. The rear side of the impeller is provided With a surface 44 which co-operates with the surface 45 on the inner end` of the cylindrical member 24. Surfaces 42, 43, 44 and 45 are carefully machined and when the parts are properly adjusted form vmovable joints which permit very little liquid to pass. It is of course apparent that the relatively rotatable surfaces cannot be in actual contact and therefore there isibound tobe some slippage between these surfaces. The slippage that flows between surfaces 44 and 45 moves inwardly toward the outer surface of hub 33 and has a tendency to pass outwardly through the stuhng box;v this slippage, however, is caught in the groove 26, which directs it back into the auxiliary blades 39, that return it to the discharge stream of the pump. For the purpose of adjusting the distance between the surfaces 42, 43 and 44, 45, the following mechanism has been provided. The

construction of the bearing has already been described and from this-it will be apparent that when ring 9 vis rotated, ring 11 will be moved either inwardly or outwardl depending on the direction of rotation, an ,since the bearing in which shaft; 3 is rotated is secured to ring 11 the'shaft with its impeller can, of course, be moved in either direction by rotating this ring and in this' manner thev desired clearance between surfaces between 42 and 43 is obtained. Cylindrical member 24 is pro` vided with an end portion 46 which extends into the opening in which ring 11 is located .and has its inner surface threaded-'sof as to engage with the outer surfacev f ring 11. After the' clearance between surfaces 42 and 43 has 'been adjusted, the clearancebetween surfaces 44 and 45 can be adj usted Vby rotating thefcylindrical member 24.A After the adjustments have 'b'eenmade the parts may be clamped in adjusted position by tightening the bolts 6.

It will be seen from the above description that inthe pump illustrated, the opening through which the shaft 3 enters the inipellercasing is sealed'by .35 which forms a stung box throug which the hub 33 extends. This stuffing box tends to `prevent liquid from flowingoutwardly when the pump is inoperative and alsopre-v vents air from being sucked into the pump during operation. The inner end of cylindrieal member 24 is provided with a groove 26 which -serves as means for catchin the slippage and returning it to' the auxiliary blades by means of which it will be returned means of acking Cil rounding the hub 33 and the tothe discharge stream. The action of the groove 26 and the auxiliary vblades prevents liquid from ilowing outwardly through 4the stuing box when the machine is in opera- 5 tion and in this wayvthe. stuiling box is kept.

free from sand or grit and therefore does notvwear very fast. By'usinga stuffing box in the manner described and shown, centrie fgal means ofv the t pe shownin U. S. Let; ters Patent, 1,556,65; for closingthis open pensed with and the construction can therefore be .greatly simplified. The use of the cylindrical member 24, the stuiiing box sur'- roove 26 in combination with,theauxiliary lades forms a combination of elementsl that produces the desired result in a new way andl it is to this combination that the present application is directed. lt' is, of course, obvious that it is not necessary that the cylindricalmember 24 shall be movable with respect to the impeller housing, as the action of the groove 26 andthe stuiling box will remain the 'same' even When an. open type runner or impeller' of the type shown i-n section in '3 is eni-` ployed there mustvbe two sets of auxiliary' lades, one set of which is formed by open blades 38"' and the other by openings 39. "The main or pumping blades 38a and the aux'- iliary lblades 38b mustbe of the same length so as to maintain aiba'lance and revent Aunequal pressures that produce end t rust. .The

35 auxiliary blades 39 may be longer than the ,open blades so as to be capable of producing a greater pressure whichwillenable' the impeller to return the slippage li uid. The

slippage between the'auxlhary bla es v8b and the adjacent inner surfaceof the casing wall .22a passes into the groove 26 which directs it inte thev auxiliary blades 39 Aby means of which it is-returnedl to the outgoing stream of liquid.

i v for forming a seal between the 'wall of the central opening and the opter surface of the cylindrical member, a shaft extending through the cylindrical member and terminating within the casing, a runner carried by the shaft', said runner 'having-one or more 565 sets of 'auxiliary blades on the side -adja ing whenithe pump is inbperative can be dis- L.

if member 24 is an integral part of plate 22.-

c From the above description it will be ap- .cent the cylindrical member, the side of the l i ,runner having the auxiliaryl blades being provided with `a circ lardepression concen- `tric with the shaft, t cylindrical member having a portion-.extending into the circular depression, said inwardly extending portion having a groove adapted to catch slippage and lreturn it to the auxiliary blades and a stuffing box for forming'a seal between the shaft and the cylindrical member.-

2 A centrifugal pu1np, comprising, in

combination, a casing forming a runner chamber provided atene side with an inlet l opening, the otherside'having an enlarged central opening, a cylindrical member extending through the central opening, meansv for forming a` seal between the wall of the r centralopening and the outer surface of the cylindrical member, a shaft extending through the cylindrical member and terminatingwithin the casing, a runner carried v by the shaft, said runner having one or more sets of auxiliary blades on the side adjacent the cylindrical member, the side of the run ner Vhaving the auxiliary blades being pro-y vided with a circularvdepression concentric with the shaft, the cylindrical member hav- 'ing a portion extending into the circular depression, said inwardly extendingportionhaving a groove adapted to catch; slippage and return it tothe auxiliary blades and means for adjusting the positioniotthe cylindrical member in the direction of the axis of the shaft. f v

3. A centrifugal pump,- comprising, in combinatiom'a casing 'forming a runner ioo chamber provided at one side with an inlet opening, the other side havingk an enlarged central opening', a cylindrical member extending through the centralopening, means for forming a seal between the wall oi,y 'he central opening and the outer .surfac-Qof the cylindrical member, a through the cylindrical member and terminating within the casing, a runner carried by the shaft, said runner having one or more sets shaft x extending of auxiliary blades on the side adjacent the cylindrical member,- -the side of the runner having the auxiliary blades being provided with a circular e depression concentric :with the shaft, the cylindrical member having a portion extending into the circular depression; said inwardlyextending portion having a groove adapted to. catch slippage and return it to the auxiliary blades, a stumn'g box forfo'rming asealbetween the shaft and-the cylindrical member, and-means for adjusting the position of the cylindrical member in the direction of the axis of the shaft..

4. A.centrifugal pump comprising,in combination a casing forming a runner chamber provided the other side having an enlarged central opening, a cylindrical member extending l through the centralopening and movable at one side with an inlet opening, i

Iwith respect to the casing, a shaft extending through the cylindrical member and `terrrxnating within the casing, a-runner within t e f casing andconnected with the shaft, means for simultaneously moving the runner and the cylindrical member with respect tothe casing, while the runner remains stationary re1- ative to the cylindrical member andfmeans for moving the cylindrical member relative to the casing while the runner and shaftre- 'main stationary relative to the casing;

5. A centrifugal pump comprising, in com-l bination, a casing forming a runner chamber provided at one side with an inlet opening, the other side'having an enlarged central opening, a cylindrical. member extending through the central opening 'and movable Y with respect to the casing, a shaft extendin through the cylindrical memberand termlnating within the casing, a runner within'the casing andconnected with-the shaft, means for simultaneously moving the runner and the cylindrical member with respect to the casing f while the runner remains stationary relative to the cylindrical member and means for move ing the cylindrical member relative to the casd 'ing while the runner and shaft .remain sta-- tionary relative to the casing, said last named means comprising a bracket rigidly connected y with the casing, said' bracket having an opening, a ring located within the opening and rotatable therein,- said ring and bracket havl ing interengaging means that holds the ring frommoving in the direction of its axis while permitting it to rotate, a bearin threadedly connected with the ring where y when the A 4 ring and the bearing areA rotated relative to each other the `lbearing Will-move in the direction of its axis, tle'outer end of the/cylinvdrical member having a threaded connectionwith the outer surface-of the bearing whereby when the cylindrical member is rotated relative'to the bearing. While the latter rmains stationary with respect to the ring the cylindrical member will be adjusted with re spect tothe runner,` andthe casing.v K

In testimony whereof I aix ym si nature. i y GEORGE E. LF EY. 

